Loui Whitehead’s Thorp Arch rise examined as Leeds confirm professional contract

Loui Whitehead has signed his first professional contract with Leeds United.

The 17-year-old has penned fresh terms with his boyhood club, that see him locked down until 2028 at the earliest.

The Whites confirmed the deal on Friday, with the midfielder set to continue his development at Thorp Arch.

He is the second Leeds academy talent to sign on a senior deal after Callum Mills' extension was confirmed on Thursday.

The LS11 side seem to be taking a serious interest in getting their best young players tied down.

Daniel Farke will surely be taking a look at them in the near future for his Elland Road squad.

What is Loui Whitehead's progress at Leeds so far?

Whitehead's journey so far has been remarkable, having first joined the Yorkshire outfit in the Under-9s.

Not much information exists around his early life with the Peacocks, as is expected around players who are not 16 and above.

Since breaking through to the level where details are made public, where he was part of a scholarship group that included Mills and Harry Gray, he has made 45 appearances for the Under-18s, with no goals and two assists.

He made his debut for Scott Gardner's Under-21 side last season, playing five times in total in the higher age group, including Premier League 2 starts against Arsenal and Liverpool.

What has Whitehead said about signing first Leeds deal?

Whitehead has confirmed that signing a pro deal with the Whites is a moment that he has been dreaming about.

His focus is now continuing the hard work and not getting distracted, as he told the club's official website, after committing his future to the club.

He said: “It is a proud moment for me, I have been working for this all the way since I started and it is all I have ever wanted, really.

“I signed when I was Under-9 and I am 17 now. So, it has been a long one but it has gone quickly. It means a lot, really.

“It is all I have ever worked towards. It is all I have looked for. I have played football all my life so it is all I have wanted.”

Given his remarkable rise so far with the Whites, it would not be a surprise to see him push on and eventually establish himself in the senior side.

Farke will be the one to decide whether he is given that opportunity, so he needs to make sure that he impresses the boss whenever he gets the chance.

He has made it this far though, so surely the belief will be there, that he can make the step up and star one day under the lights at Elland Road.